335i and other options

[Tuvra]

rallycross said:

Here you go again, you probably have never so much as sat in an m3 or 335i let alone driven or owned one - but once again you are advising people, based on what experience exactly?

30'000 posts of mainly spurious ste.

Come back when you have actually driven the cars you are commenting on ( if they will let you drive one).

Harsh....


....but fair

OT: Surely there is one obvious "next car" that needs considering after an R32:

Edited by Tuvra on Monday 28th September 10:57

[burpface]

mikeyscott said:

If I'm totally honest this does keep coming up and making the mind tick, but certainly more barge like. I was tempted to hunt one out to look at, but know little about Jaguar servicing / maintenance and such. Also Mrs will prob say it's too big, she's not great with big cars.

Haha. That's exactly the opinion of my missus too!

[seefarr]

yonex said:

mikeyscott said:

Mmm 330i haven't really thought about that, but not sure.

Late E90 330i should be a nicer build than R32, but not as much "character"



335i + birds kit?

The Birds dynamic kit with LSD is a given Would a 130 be too small? The E46 is great but there are so many tired old heaps which need a lot of money chucked at them. I'd take a spin in the 335i and 330, a remap on either should sharpen the throttle up.

I've got an N54 one with the full Birds kit and a Cobb remap up to ~390hp and I love it. The Birds suspension rides amazingly over British roads (at least when combined with 18s) and the Cobb remap is like night and day. It's gone from a quick car to a fast car. As standard it used to barely feel turboed but you do now get the wahaaay! of the boost coming in a bit more, which I like (still no where near as on-off as the Evo I had). There are two different throttle maps selectable with the Cobb and if you don't like those, you can even write your own.

I was looking at E90 M3s but all the ones I looked at under 20k just weren't right. I then started looking at 135s, but they were generally more than the 335s, for a smaller car and not as nice interior and the weight difference between the two was less than 100kgs. An E46 interior really feels a decade behind the E90s.

[mikeyscott]

If the right 335i turned up I'd hope it'd be a keeping. Potentially with some DMS and Birds work

[jontbone]

mikeyscott said:

Bored of my MK5 R32 that I bought in Dec 2014 and miss the quality of BMW from when I had my 123d M Sport. No I don't want another VW.

Been looking for a 335i saloon and touring. After an arrogant sales conversation about a 335i saloon, I'm a bit WTF about it all. It was a good spec N55 auto LCI edition

So alternatives £16k ish range. S4, S4 avant B8 etc?

My parents had a mk5 R32 & a 335i coupe at the same time. The R32 was a lovely car without a doubt, but the 335i was easily my favourite (drove them both) the 335i was effortlessly quick, with a linear power delivery and a lovely sound track to go with it.
I'd have bought a 335i Touring myself if I didn't need to do big mileage.

How about one of these!I
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

[mikeyscott]

jontbone said:

mikeyscott said:

Bored of my MK5 R32 that I bought in Dec 2014 and miss the quality of BMW from when I had my 123d M Sport. No I don't want another VW.

Been looking for a 335i saloon and touring. After an arrogant sales conversation about a 335i saloon, I'm a bit WTF about it all. It was a good spec N55 auto LCI edition

So alternatives £16k ish range. S4, S4 avant B8 etc?

My parents had a mk5 R32 & a 335i coupe at the same time. The R32 was a lovely car without a doubt, but the 335i was easily my favourite (drove them both) the 335i was effortlessly quick, with a linear power delivery and a lovely sound track to go with it.
I'd have bought a 335i Touring myself if I didn't need to do big mileage.

How about one of these!I
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Touring LCI N55 would be the perfect solution in my book I think

[mikeyscott]

Having had a 123d previously I'm off to check out a 130i with LSD etc

Bit different direction

[anonymous-user]

mikeyscott said:

Having had a 123d previously I'm off to check out a 130i with LSD etc

Bit different direction

They're good, very good once you have the Birds kit/LSD.

[ORD]

The E90 335 is a better drive than a fast Audi but still nothing like an M3. It says a lot that think the 335 is best suited to the Touring - effortless pace and mid-range punch would be lovely in a family car like that; less so for a car for Sunday morning.

[mikeyscott]

yonex said:

mikeyscott said:

Having had a 123d previously I'm off to check out a 130i with LSD etc

Bit different direction

They're good, very good once you have the Birds kit/LSD.

It has all this, car listed last night, sold early this morning

Bugger lol

07 130i LE for sale at birds

[anonymous-user]

I almost bought that one the last time it was at Birds Strong money and it has crashy suspension, annoying mounts.

[Mr Tidy]

OP, I posted on another of your threads about that one - sorry it has gone.

Keep looking, there must be one out there that suits you, although from what you have said a 130i may work better than a 335i. And any M model has the M tax on running costs!

Would a 135iM or M135i be an option perhaps?

I know it doesn't have much enhancement potential but the N52 engine in the 130i is fantastic (I have a Z4C with one). And I previously had a 123d - the difference is like night and day!

Good luck anyway.

[si_xsi]

What reasons are you moving away from the r32 for? If you like the 335, what about a 135i couple or z4 coupe 3.0l?

[Digitalize]

Not sure if it's mentioned, but you said folding seats, most E90's don't have folding seats, all E91's do.

[anonymous-user]

Digitalize said:

Not sure if it's mentioned, but you said folding seats, most E90's don't have folding seats, all E91's do.

The single most stupid decision ever made by BMW.

[mikeyscott]

yonex said:

Digitalize said:

Not sure if it's mentioned, but you said folding seats, most E90's don't have folding seats, all E91's do.

The single most stupid decision ever made by BMW.

Totally agree. The 335i I missed due to a ret**d of a dealer had the folding seats.

Yet folding seats standard on the coupe??

[mikeyscott]

yonex said:

I almost bought that one the last time it was at Birds Strong money and it has crashy suspension, annoying mounts.

Mmm might not have been for me then. Says springs too hard...

[silentbrown]

Tuvra said:

OT: Surely there is one obvious "next car" that needs considering after an R32:

£16K might be a stretch, particularly if it needs any work?

I'm biased, but have a look at an S4 B8. Early ones could have a manual box, if you can stomach the VED band.

[FurtiveFreddy]

mikeyscott said:

Totally agree. The 335i I missed due to a ret**d of a dealer had the folding seats.

Yet folding seats standard on the coupe??

Folding seats are standard on the Coupe (or at least that's what a dealer told me..)

I've had a 335i for a week or so now and I am not yet regretting buying it over an M3. It's the perfect balance between comfort and speed IMO. I was a bit non-plussed when I first drove it and thought I'd made the wrong choice, but then I found SPORT+ mode

[mikeyscott]

silentbrown said:

Tuvra said:

OT: Surely there is one obvious "next car" that needs considering after an R32:

£16K might be a stretch, particularly if it needs any work?

I'm biased, but have a look at an S4 B8. Early ones could have a manual box, if you can stomach the VED band.

Already in top VED band

FurtiveFreddy said:

mikeyscott said:

Totally agree. The 335i I missed due to a ret**d of a dealer had the folding seats.

Yet folding seats standard on the coupe??

Folding seats are standard on the Coupe (or at least that's what a dealer told me..)

I've had a 335i for a week or so now and I am not yet regretting buying it over an M3. It's the perfect balance between comfort and speed IMO. I was a bit non-plussed when I first drove it and thought I'd made the wrong choice, but then I found SPORT+ mode

Did you go coupe or saloon. Just not sure if I like the coupe in 3 series shape, saw one at the weekend.

I keep thinking E90 M3 LOL, but doubt it as they're near £23k+